“I look forward to continue to work closely with Abengoa Vista Ridge and to ensure thorough vetting of new equity partners. Before any changes are made, we will carry out detailed due diligence,” Taylor says.

Later this week, Abengoa Vista Ridge will share more financial details with SAWS so the water utility can monitor and manage the project. Taylor says SAWS leadership will vet investors and that the process will be transparent, with investors being picked from proposals that fit and benefit the project. Additionally, investors have to agree to all existing terms.

SAWS says the pipeline will diversify the city's water portfolio, which includes eight existing sources and a ninth on the way, along with providing a 30-year supply of water from the Carrizo-Wilcox Aquifer that would meet the needs of an estimated 1.1 million people expected to live in Bexar County by 2040.

Opponents of the project failed to convince City Council about their concerns, which included a rate increase that they say hurts low-income families and seniors, damaging drawdown in the Carrizo-Wilcox Aquifer and environmental damage caused by slash-and-burn development and suburban sprawl that opponents say the pipeline will enable.